Israel has reopened the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt after nearly two years, allowing critical patients to receive medical treatment abroad.
Border Crossing Reopened
After nearly two years, Israel has opened the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The crossing will be open for 6 hours daily, allowing 150 people to leave the Strip and 50 people to enter. At 10:00 AM on February 2, a bus arrived with Palestinians who have permission from Israeli authorities to enter the enclave.
Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of the al-Shifa hospital in northern Gaza, reported that only five of the 450 critical patients will be among those leaving for Egypt. Each patient will be accompanied by two people.
Medical Evacuation Efforts
The World Health Organization has notified patients about their upcoming treatment and transport to hospitals in Egypt. Among those traveling are a 2-year-old girl with shrapnel wounds to the abdomen and a 12-year-old boy who lost his sight in an Israeli attack. For assistance, 12,000 medical personnel in 150 hospitals have prepared, with approximately 300 ambulances lined up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border.
A Palestinian man, Mohammed Nassir, whose leg was amputated after injuries during an Israeli attack, stated that crossing Rafah is a lifeline, as he needs an operation not available in Gaza but can be performed abroad.
Ceasefire in Gaza
A ceasefire has been in effect in the Gaza Strip since October 10, 2023, in the war between Israel and Hamas. The terms were negotiated with the participation of the United States and Arab states. After the ceasefire came into effect, Hamas released all living Israeli hostages and began handing over bodies of those who died in captivity.
According to Palestinian sources, more than 480 people have been killed by Israeli armed forces since the ceasefire began.
